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Home / IAS Preparation / Forces Affecting Wind

Forces Affecting Wind Velocity & Direction: Coriolis Effect & More | UPSC Notes

Last Updated on Feb 08, 2025
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The forces affecting wind velocity and direction play a crucial role in shaping weather patterns and climatic conditions across the globe. Understanding these forces is essential for comprehending meteorological phenomena and predicting atmospheric behavior.

Questions related to meteorology, climatology, and atmospheric dynamics frequently appear in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, particularly in the Geography optional paper and the General Studies paper 1.

This article on the forces affecting wind velocity and direction UPSC will delve into the key factors that shape wind velocity and direction. This includes the pressure gradient force, Coriolis effect, and frictional force. Each factor will be explained in detail, highlighting its influence on wind patterns and the resultant climatic conditions. 

GS Paper

General Studies Paper I

Topics for UPSC Prelims

Coriolis Effect, Pressure Gradient Force, Frictional Force, Geostrophic Winds, Cyclones, Anticyclones.

Topics for UPSC Mains

Factors Affecting Wind Velocity and Direction, Coriolis Effect and Pressure Gradient Force, Geostrophic Winds and their Significance in Weather Patterns, Cyclones and Anticyclones Formation

Forces Affecting the Velocity and Direction of Wind

Sun is the ultimate force that drives winds. Pressure differences force winds to flow from high pressure to low pressure areas. Pressure differences in turn are caused by unequal heating of the earth’s surface by solar radiation. The wind at the surface experiences friction. In addition, rotation of the earth also affects the wind movement. The force exerted by the rotation of the earth is known as the Coriolis force.

Thus, the horizontal winds near the earth surface respond to the combined effect of three forces – 

  • the pressure gradient force, 
  • the frictional force, and the 
  • Coriolis force. 

In addition, the gravitational force acts downwards. Centripetal acceleration produces a circular pattern of flow around centers of high and low pressure. 

Read the article on Wind and Wind Types!

Pressure Gradient Force

The difference in atmospheric pressure produces pressure gradient force. The rate of change of pressure with respect to distance is the pressure gradient. Pressure Gradient Force operates from the high pressure area to a low pressure area and causes wind movement.

The pressure gradient is strong where the isobars are close to each other and is weak where the isobars are apart. Since a closely spaced gradient implies a steep pressure change, it also indicates a strong wind speed. The wind direction follows the direction of change of pressure, i.e. perpendicular to the isobars.

Frictional Force 

The irregularities of the earth’s surface offer resistance to the wind movement in the form of friction.

It affects the speed of the wind. It is greatest at the surface and its influence generally extends up to an elevation of 1 – 3 km. Over the sea surface the friction is minimal.

Over uneven terrain, however, due to high friction, the wind direction makes high angles with isobars and the speed gets retarded.

Read the article on factors affecting Indian monsoon!

Coriolis Force

The rotation of the earth about its axis affects the direction of the wind. This force is called the Coriolis force. It has a great impact on the direction of wind movement.

Due to the earth’s rotation, winds do not cross the isobars at right angles as the pressure gradient force directs, but get deflected from their original path. This deviation is the result of the earth’s rotation and is called the Coriolis effect or Coriolis force.

Due to this effect, winds in the northern hemisphere get deflected to the right of their path and those in the southern hemisphere to their left, following Farrell’s Law (the law that wind is deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, derived from the application of the Coriolis effect to air masses).This deflection force does not seem to exist until the air is set in motion and increases with wind velocity, air mass and an increase in latitude.

The Coriolis force acts perpendicular to the pressure gradient force (pressure gradient force is perpendicular to an isobar)As a result of these two forces operating perpendicular to each other, in the low-pressure areas the wind blows around it (cyclonic conditions).

The Coriolis Effect

The Coriolis effect is the apparent deflection of objects (such as airplanes, wind, missiles, sniper gun bullets and ocean currents) moving in a straight path relative to the earth’s surface.

The “apparent” portion of the Coriolis effect’s definition is also important to take into consideration.

This means that from the object in the air (i.e., an airplane) the earth can be seen rotating slowly below it. From the earth’s surface that same object appears to curve off of its course. The object is not actually moving off its course but just appears to be happening because the earth’s surface is rotating beneath the object.

Why are there no Tropical Cyclones at the Equator?

The Coriolis force is directly proportional to the angle of latitude. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator.

At the equator (Coriolis force is zero) wind blows perpendicular to the isobars. The low pressure gets filled instead of getting intensified i.e., there is no spiraling of air due to zero Coriolis effect. The winds directly get uplifted vertically to form thunderstorms.

Read the article on wind energy in India!

Centripetal Acceleration

It acts only on air that is flowing around centers of circulation. Centripetal acceleration creates a force directed at right angles to the wind movement and inwards towards the centers of rotation (e.g., low and high pressure centers). This force produces a circular pattern of flow around centers of high and low pressure. Centripetal acceleration is more important for circulations smaller than the mid-latitude cyclone.

Read the article on Landforms Created by Wind!

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Geostrophic Wind

The velocity and direction of the wind are the net result of the wind generating forces.

The winds in the upper atmosphere, 2 – 3 km above the surface, are free from the frictional effect of the surface and are controlled by the pressure gradient and the Coriolis force. When isobars are straight and when there is no friction, the pressure gradient force is balanced by the Coriolis force and the resultant wind blows parallel to the isobar. This wind is known as the geostrophic wind.

The wind movement around a low is called cyclonic circulation. Around a high it is called anticyclonic circulation. The direction of winds around such systems changes according to their location in different hemispheres.

The wind movement or wind circulation of geostrophic wind at the earth’s surface around low and high on many occasions is closely related to the wind circulation at higher level. Generally, over a low pressure area the air will converge and rise. Over high pressure areas the air will subside from above and diverge at the surface.

Read the article on Local Winds of the World!

Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants

  • Pressure Gradient Force: Due to the difference in atmospheric pressure, wind blows from high to low-pressure area.
  • Coriolis Force: This results from the rotation of Earth. The wind deflects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it deflects toward the left.
  • Frictional Force: This is the resistance offered by the ground, water, and vegetation. It reduces the speed of wind more drastically near the surface.
  • Centrifugal Force: This is a force acting on the air moving in curvatures. It bears high applicability in cyclonic and anticyclonic systems.
  • Gravitational Force: This is a force pulling air masses downward, thus determining the vertical movements of air and wind.
  • Temperature gradient: It is the differential heating between land and sea, controlling the wind's speed and direction, such as sea breezes.
  • Topographic barriers: Mountains, valleys, among other natural features, deflect the wind and create local wind regimes.
  • Convection Currents: The rising warm air and cool air descending currents affect the wind speed and direction both locally as well as globally.

We hope the above NCERT Notes Geography(NCERT) -Geography causes of biodiversity loss for UPSC aspirants proves to be useful for your UPSC and other competitive exams preparations. For more notes and updated details, download the Testbook App and get exam-ready in no time!

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Forces Affecting Velocity and the Direction of Wind UPSC FAQs

There are typically three forces that influence wind: the pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, and frictional force.

The pressure gradient force is considered the primary force that drives wind, and its strength determines the speed and direction of the wind.

The Coriolis force affects the direction of wind flow.

The frictional force slows down the wind near the Earth's surface and influences its direction. This causes it to deviate from the geostrophic flow.

The primary forces that control wind speed and direction are the pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, and frictional force.
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